The Exposure Factors Handbook provides summaries of available statistical data on several factors used in assessing human exposure to toxic chemicals.

A cooperative effort of University of California-Davis, Oregon State University, Michigan State University, Cornell University, and the University of Idaho, EXTOXNET (the Extension Toxicology Network) is an online resource providing "objective, science-based information about pesticides" and other toxic chemicals. First-time viewers will find useful information in the FAQ section, which covers...

International Programme on Chemical Safety's (IPCS's) INCHEM "consolidates a wide variety of information produced by a number of international bodies whose goal is to assist in the sound management of chemicals [and] provides a means of rapid access to information on chemicals commonly used throughout the world, which may also occur as contaminants in the environment and food." From this metasite,...

The US Environmental Protection Agency has recently released a final regulation for Methods for Measuring the Acute Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Freshwater. This involves the approval of several test procedures for measuring the toxicity of effluents and receiving waters, which are referred to as whole effluent toxicity or WET test methods. Visitors can download the entire 275...

The US Department of Health and Human Services has recently made available its Report on Carcinogens (RoC), as prepared by the National Toxicology Program located at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Users may view the entire report on this Web site provided by Environmental Health Perspectives, a peer-reviewed journal published by NIEHS. The RoC is an authoritative...

Offered by the State of New Jersey, the Right to Know Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets Website is an outstanding source for in-depth information on over 2,000 hazardous substances. Continually updated, each fact sheet (.pdf file) is listed by common name. Users can learn how to identify harmful chemicals from Acenaphthene to Zirconium, determine exposure, assess health hazards, and acquire...

This striking new exhibition from the American Museum of Natural History explores the cultural, historical, and biological powers of poison. Designed to complement an in situ exhibit, visitors can learn about poison in nature, myth, and legend. A video introduction to the exhibit is a great place to start and visitors can also meet the curator, Dr. Mark Siddall. In the Poison in Nature area, users...

Tox Town, a Web-based project of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), is "an interactive guide to commonly encountered toxic substances." This highly visual Web site provides a wealth of information and related resources, such as an introduction to everyday locations where toxic chemicals might lurk, non-technical descriptions of toxins, the effect of toxins on human health, and more. Users...

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is continually assembling toxicological profiles for hazardous substances. This site contains 256 online profiles listed alphabetically by chemical name. Each profile begins with a non-technical public health statement discussing the chemical, its environmental and health effects, and risk of human exposure. A more technical version of...

The journal Toxicological Sciences is now available online, thanks to a combined effort of the Society for Toxicology and Stanford University's HighWire Press. Toxicological Sciences publishes "research articles that are broadly relevant to assessing the potential adverse health effects resulting from exposure of human or animals to chemicals, drugs, natural products, or synthetic materials."...